Molding machine



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mm mmm. mm Nmm r a 0 *N IEI N MWN 5 E] mum QWN sm mwk Patented Mar. 23, 1948 2,438,218 Momma monum- Loyal L. Johnston, Zelienoplc, Pl. asslgnor to Herman Pneumatic Machine Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 6, 1944, Serial No. 543,656

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to molding machines, particularly machines for making foundry molds. It relates more particularly to station type machines for making molds progressively, performing successive operations at successive stations to which the mold being made or formed is successively moved.

I provide a molding machine which by reason of the arrangement and cooperative action of the parts produces molds of high quality faster and more efllciently than it has heretofore been possible to make molds of comparable quality. My molding machine is adaptable for making molds of various sizes, being of especialadvantage in the making of the larger sizes of foundry molds.

The machine accomplishes its work with a minimum of manual operation and supervision, and those manual operations which are required to be performed are at least largely, if not entirely, such as to require no particular skill or special ability on the part of the operator. By its use I am enabled-to produce molds. and particularly large size molds, at a much higher rate per man hour than the rates at which it has heretofore been possible to produce comparable molds.

My molding machine is different in many respects from molding machines which have heretofore been used and with which I am familiar. The operations which are performed at the respective stations are so correlated that they take place simultaneously on different molds in process of manufacture but without interference with one another. Variousparts of the mechanism, as will appear, are of improved construction whereby to increase the efliciency of operation of the machine as a whole.

I shall proceed to describe in detail a present preferred form of molding machine, and as the description proceeds the various features of novelty and the advantages thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a present preferred embodiment of my in vention, in which Figure 1 is a general machine;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the molding machine shown in Figure 1 as viewed from the bottom of Figure 1, Figure 2 being to somewhat larger scale than Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevational view to still larger scale than Figure 2 of the molding machine shown in Figures 1 and. 2 but as viewed from the left in said figures;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail plan view of a molding view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical cross section, illustrating a portion of the mechanism for raising and lowering the carrier or turret;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the mechanism for rotating the turret; I

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectiona-llview of the turret and the mechanism for rotating it;

Figure 'I is an enlarged fragmentary detail view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical cross section. of a portion of the mechanism at the lower station viewing Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail vertical crosssectional view to enlarged scale of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a plan view of a standard provided at the lower station viewing Figure 1 having means for inverting a mold support;

Figure 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line x-x of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line X[X[ of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in vertical cross section of a portion of the mechanism at the right-hand station viewing Figure 1;

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view through a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 12 and illustrating particularly the jolt valve;

Figure 14 is enlarged fragmentary detail view. partly in elevation and partly in vertical cross section, of a portion of the mechanism at the upper station viewing Figure 1;

Figure 15 is a plan view of a standard provided at the upper station viewing Figure 1 having means for inverting a mold support;

Figure 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line XVI-XVI of Figure 15;

Figure 1'7 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectiona; view taken on the line XVII-XVII of Figure 1 Figure 18 is a plan view of a portion oi the mechanism at the left-hand station viewing Figure Figures 19 and 20 taken together constitute a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in vertical cross section of the mechanism shown in Figure 18;

Figure 21 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the mold support holding mechanism on the carrier for holding each of the mold sup ts:

Figure 22 is an elevational view of the mechanismshowninFigure 21;

Figure 23 is a plan view of one of the mold sup ports with a portion of the supporting mechanism therefor;

Figure 24 is an elevational view, partly in ver- ,tical cross section, of a mold support, showing it in place on a base provided at the right-hand station, viewing Figure 1;

Figure 25 is a fragmentary detail view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical cross section, illustrating a portion of the means for holding a flask on the support;

Figure 26 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the mechanism shown at the right-hand end of Figure 23;

Figure 27 is an elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 26;

Figure 28 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line xxvm xxvm of sure connections to the mechanism at the lefthand station (station IV) viewing Figur 1;

Figure 31 is a diagram showing the fiuid pressure connections to the right-hand station (station II) viewing Figure 1;

Figure 32 is a diagram showing the fluid pressure connections to the lower station (station 1) viewing Figure 1; and

Figure 33 is a wiring diagram of the control mechanism,

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is provided a carrier or turret designated generally by reference numeral 2 which is movable both vertically and rotatively about its vertical axis 3 (Figure l). The turret carries four mold supports each of which moves successively to four operating stations. In Figure 1 one of the operating stations is disposed at the 1 bottom of the figure and is designated 1, another station is disposed at the right and is designated II, another station is disposed at the top and is designated III and the fourth and last station is disposed at the left and is designated IV.

The turret 2 is adapted to move periodically first upwardly, then rotatively through an angle of 90. counterclockwise viewing Figure 1 and, finally, downwardly, as will be described in de- 3 tall. Upon each such cycle of movements each of the four mold supports carried by the turret is advanced one station.

4 9 closes the upper ends of the hollow pistons 1 and is bolted thereto by bolts In so that the pistons i and the base 9 are in operation a. unit. A gasket lfla seals each piston to the base.

An annular space H is provided within the cylinder 5 about the lower end of the piston therein as shown in Figure 4; The lower end of the piston is covered by a plate l2 connected with the piston by bolts I3, each plate l2 havin a circular central orifice M. The cylinder 5 is closed at the bottom by a plate I5 bolted to the cylinder by bolts Hi, The plate l5 has a downwardly projecting central boss I! having an internally threaded bore" I8. Threaded into the bore I8 is the lower threaded end IQ of an upstanding control member20 which passes through the orifice I l. The control member 20 has upper and lower cylindrical portions 2| of maximum diameter, a central cylindrical portion 22 of minimum diameter and conical portions 23 joining the respective portions 2| with the portion 22.

Referring to Figure 4, the floor line is shown a single cylinder but having the upper portion 6 of less diameter than the lower portion 5. The

two composite cylinders each consisting of the parts 5 and 6 and the mechanism cooperating therewith are duplicates of each other so that description of one will suffice for both.

Disposed within the cylinder 56-is a hollow piston I having a sliding fit within the upper cylinder portion 6, Packing 8 maintained in place by a gland 8a bolted to the cylinder 6 at 8b seals the piston to the cylinder 6, Mounted upon the tops of the pistons 1 in the two cylinders 5-6 is a base 9 for the turret 2. The base The diameter of the portions 2| of the control member 20 is only slightly less than the internal diameter of the orifice Hi.

The cylinder 5 has a vent 24 closed by a plug 25. The plate I5 is provided with a drain plug 26. The hollow piston is adapted to be largely filled with liquid as, for example, oil, which when the base 9 is in its lowermost position as shown in Figure 4 stands in the piston only slightly below the top thereof and fills the annular space H between the piston and the cylinder 5. Each of the pistons 1 is provided closely adjacent the base 9 and above the maximum height to which the liquid therein can rise with an inlet 21 for gas, as, for example, air under pressure, which air is supplied through a conduit 21a (see Fi ure 29).

When the base 9 carrying the turret 2 is to be raised air is admitted Within the two pistons 1 through the conduit 27a and inlets 21. The air forces the oil at the bottoms of the pistons through the orifices M. The pistons slowly rise, their ascent being cushioned or controlled by the orifices M which provide restricted passages through which the oil from within the pistons must be delivered to permit the pistons to move upwardly.

As the base 9 and pistons I begin their upward movement the lower portion 2| of maxi mum diameter of each control member 20 lies within the orifice l4 so that the annular space within the orifice and about the portion 2| is of minimum cross section. As the piston moves upwardly the lower conical portion 23 of the control member '20 passes within the orifice l4, during which time the fiow of oil downwardly through the orifice gradually increases due to the gradually increasing area of the annular space about the control member. The speed of passage of the oil downwardly through the orice M and, consequently, the speed' of upward movement of the base 9 is at a maximum while the central cylindrical portion 22 of the control member 20 is passing through the orifice M. The speed of movement is gradually reduced as the upper conical portion 23 of the control member passes through the orifice and the speed of movement is very slow while the upper cylindrical portion 2| of the control member is within the orifice. Thus through control of the area of the oil outlet passage during upward movement of the pistons 1 the assembly of the base 9 and pistons 1 move first with minimum velocity, then with increasing velocity, next with maximum velocity, next with, decreasing velocity and finally which have been formed or are in the process of formation.

When the turret is to be lowered the air is released from within the upper portions of the pistons 1 by opening the conduit 27a to exhaust which permits the turret and the base 9 to move downwardly under the force of gravity, the oil below the plate i2 passing upwardly through the orifice i4 about the control member 29 and the speed of movement of the turret thus being controlled on the down stroke in the same way as it is controlled when the turret moves upwardly.

Mounted on one of the cylinders 6 at 28 is a switch 29 having a pivoted arm 30 carrying a roller 3i. Fastened to the bottom .of the base 9 is a switch operating rod 32 which projects downwardly and carries at its lower end a switch operating cam 33 adjustably positioned thereon. As the base 9 moves upwardly and approaches its extreme upper position the cam 33 contacts the roller 3! to operate the switch 29 which closes a circuit to cause rotation of the turret as will presently be described.

By the mechanism above described the turret 2 is adapted to be raised at the conclusion of performance of operations at the respective stations and to be lowered prior to performance of the operations on the respective molds at the next succeeding stations. Each time the turret has been raised as above described it is automatically turned in the counter-clockwise direction viewing Figure 1 through an angle of 90 and after it has been thus turned it is again lowered. The mechanism for turning the turret through an angle of 90 each time it is raised will now be described.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, the base 9 has an upper circularly arranged series of rollers 34 and a lower circularly arranged series of rollers 35 adapted to support the turret 2 for rotation relatively to the base. It will be understood that the base 9 being fastened to the pistons 1 is non-rotatable, the turret rotating with respect thereto. The turret has an annular bearing portion 36 which rests on the upper rollers 34 and has an annular downward extension 31 having at its bottom an outwardly directed flange 38 which underlies the rollers 35. The turret 2 also has a skirt 39 surrounding a portion 40 of the base. Thus by the cooperating portions 39, 40 and 34, 36 and 35, 38 the turret 2 is supported and guided for rotation upon the base 9.

Boltedon the bottom of the annular extension 31 bf the turret by bolts 4| is a circular downwardly facing bevel rack 42. Fastened to the base 9 is an electric motor 43 coupled to a speed reducer 44 having a radial shaft 45 to which is keyed a bevel pinion 46 meshing with the bevel rack 42. Operation of the motor 43 causes rotation of the pinion 46 and, since the motor 43 is mounted stationarily in the base 9, the turret 2 is caused to turn relatively to the base.

The base 9 carries centrally thereof an upwardly open cylinder 41 within which fits a downwardly projecting piston 48 formed integral with the turret 2. A pipe 49 is screwed into the base at 59, the pipe extending upwardly and being coaxial with the axis of rotation of the turret and also with the cylinder 41. The piston 48 has a. central opening 5i receiving the pipe 49 and has normally vertical edge faces 10 ing parts thereof .63, four rollover portion 65 to which are packing 52 and a packing gland 52a cooperating with the pipe 49 to prevent leakage of fluid between the pipe and the piston. A fluid conduit 53 enters the base which has a bore 54 with which the conduit communicates, such bore having an enlarged central portion 55 below the pipe 49 and communicating therewith, the opposite end of the bore being closed by a plug 56.

The center of the upper surface of the turret 2 is closed by a plate 51. The turret has a conflned space 58 communicating with the upper end of the pipe 49 through which fluid delivered through the pipe 49 is adapted to pass. Four fluid connections 59 communicate with the space 58 as shown in Figures 1 and 6. l

The purpose of the structure just described ispresently be described. The fluid passes through the conduit 53 and the bore 54 into the enlarged central portion 55 thereof and thence passes upwardly through the pipe 49 into the space 58 so as to be available at the fluid connections 59. When the turret rotates the piston 48 turns within the cylinder 41 but in no way interferes with the delivery of fluid to the turret through the means just described.

Applied to the shaft of the motor 43 is a magnetic brake 60. Control mechanism is provided, as will presently be described in detail, so that when the base 9 with the turret 2 thereon has been raised to its uppermost position the motor 43 will be energized to turn the turret relatively to the base through an angle of 90 about the axis 3. A limit switch cuts off the motor and ap plies the brake 60 at the end of the turning movement of the turret, whereupon the turret and base move downwardly. The operation of raising the turret, turning it through 90 and lowering it is performed repeatedly so long as the machine operates.

Rigidly connected with the turret 2 and formare four radially projecting arms 6| disposed 90 apart as shown in Figure 1. Each of the arms 6| is bifurcated, having extensions 62 and 63 arranged sothat the extension 62 of one arm lies parallel to the extension 63 of an adjacent arm, each set of parallel spaced apart extensions 62 and 63 serving to carry a mold support or rollover plate 64. There being four sets of rollover plate supports 62 and plates are employed in operation of the machine. These rollover plates are identical, one of them being shown in Figures 23,

24 and 25. Each rollover plate comprises a body fastened at opposite ends arms 66 and 61 which project in a direction substantially normal to the body portion 65. The arm 66 carries a trunnion 68 which terminates in a plate 69 having opposed elongated straight and having its outer face 'H beveled at the top shown at 12. The arm 61 carries a trunnion13 which has an extension 14 projecting generally axially of the trunnion. Fluid passages 15, I6 and extend from the extension 14 through the trunnion 13 as shown in Figure 28. These passages communicate respectively with flexible fluid connections 78, 79 and 80 through which fluid under pressure is introduced to the rollover plate.

The extensions or arms 62 and 63 on the turret are provided with rollers 8i, 82 and 83 (see-Figand bottom as 

